Generational Curses Today ?

Generational Curses Today?

Many false teachers preach that generational curses require special cures. Supposedly, you must pray special prayers so that you may free yourself from generational curses. In order to understand all matters of faith and practice, we must study the Bible for ourselves. Only the Word of God can help us understand the truth.

Generational Curses Described

In the Old Testament, God provided written laws to help the people of Israel understand just how sinful they were and how much they needed a Savior to forgive their sins. By faith, the righteous found forgiveness. We may look at the Old Testament to understand the basics of personal responsibility for sin and the effects of national sins.

The Ten Commandments. In the Ten Commandments, Moses wrote about a generational curse:

“You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me” (Exodus 20:5, Page 120)

Curses Fall upon People Who Hate God. Notice that the generational curse falls only upon people who hate God, no matter what generation they belong to. Furthermore, false teachers ignore the very next verse:

Blessings Flow To People Who Love God. While God certainly brought generational curses upon some idolators, He also promised to show His lovingkindness to thousands of generations who love Him and keep His commandments. Therefore, we may safely proclaim that no generational curse applies to anyone who loves God and keeps His commandments. We should also consider other similar passages.

“The LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘the LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations'” (Exodus 34:6-7, Page 146).

God Punishes the Guilty. This passage appears very similar to the Ten Commandments passage above. Indeed, this narrative describes the second giving of the Ten Commandments. You may recall Moses slammed the first stone tablets to the ground, outraged over the idolatry of the people of Israel. The second time, however, Moses himself had to cut the stones for God to write upon. As the first time, God emphasized the difference between the fate of idolators who practice sin over generations, and believers who turn away from idolatry and find the forgiveness of God. God only punishes the guilty, never the righteous.

“So those of you who may be left will rot away because of their iniquity in the lands of your enemies; and also because of the iniquities of their forefathers they will rot away with them” (Leviticus 26:39, Page 209).

National Sins Produce National Disasters. In Leviticus 26, God warned the people of Israel to observe the sabbath of rest while in the promised land. If they neglect the sabbath, then God will impose punishment upon Israel for such disobedience. In fact, God sent Israel into exile in Babylon until it had fulfilled seventy years of sabbaths (Daniel 9:1-2, Page 1204; see also Jeremiah 25:11, Page 1225). This passage pinpoints the specific judgment of God upon disobedient people. While some of the people went into exile in Babylon because of their sin, ignoring the warning of God regarding the sabbaths, Daniel, Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah prospered under the hand of Babylon. Furthermore, Jeremiah himself predicted that the people of Israel should seek the prosperity of Babylon while exiled there, and they should have children and multiply (Jeremiah 28:4-20, Pages 1232-1233). We may learn that God judges a nation for a period of time, but the individuals who serve Him prospered according to His lovingkindness.

Individual Responsibility for Sin. We may glean from these passages the truth that God always holds the individual accountable for his own sin. At times, God also pronounces curses upon an entire nation for the evil things it has done. God did not even spare Israel for such a punishment for its idolatry.

Generational Effects of Sin. We may also learn that sin has affects across generations. One generation may learn to worship idols at home, from their parents. In such cases, one generation promotes the idolatry of the next generation. Even so, each person within each generation may forsake the evil, confess sin, and enjoy the lovingkindness of God, no matter what happened before. Even the faithful exiles living in Babylon rose to prominence, performed great works for God, and became a light to the pagans about the true and living God they served. God used the exiles to evangelize the Babylonians.

The Righteous Enjoy Blessings, Not Curses

The Old Testament consistently provided that only the guilty shall be punished, in contrast to the pagan customs of destroying entire families. God never punished fathers for the sins of their children, nor did God punish children for the sins of the fathers.

“Fathers shall not be put to death for their sons, nor shall sons be put to death for their fathers; everyone shall be put to death for his own sin” (Deuteronomy 24:16, Page 326).

Fathers Not Punished for the Sons’ Sins. Any notion that children suffer for the generational sins of the fathers should be evaluated according this verse. God never punishes one person for the sins of another person. Moses delivered the laws of God and they clearly indicated personal responsibility for sin (Deuteronomy 24:16, Page 326). Later, King Amaziah understood and applied the teaching of Moses. When King Amaziah killed the rebels who killed his father the king, King Amaziah did not kill the rebels’ children, because King Amaziah obeyed the law of Moses, quoting Deuteronomy 24:16 (2 Kings 14:6, Page 618; see also Ezekiel 18:20, Page 1323).

The Watchman of Israel. The blessings of the righteous rest upon every person who turns from his sin and does justice and righteousness. In Ezekiel 3, God appointed Ezekiel a watchman over Israel. God used Ezekiel to warn Israel.

“When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you did not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand'” (Ezekiel 3:18, Page 1300).

The Spiritual Duty To Warn Sinners. God stressed individual responsibility for sin, but also imposed a duty to warn evil men to turn away from their sins. If you warn an evil man and he continues in his sin, then you are no longer responsible for the sin. Notice that the evil man makes a decision about continuing in sin; God commands all unbelievers to repent and receive the free gift of salvation by alone before death on earth. God even sends people to warn evil people about the dangers of sin and unrepentance. Therefore, we may understand that God cares for the evil people, warns them, and offers them life instead of death. Each person must make their own choices, but God calls upon us to care for our neighbors and warn them of the consequences of their sin. God applied this same theme of personal responsibility to fathers and children.

“The person that sins shall die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity; the righteousness of the righteous will be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20, Page 1232).

Sin and Death: Always Individual. Many parents worry about their children. Some parents worry that their sins will be held against their children. In other cases, some parents worry that they will be punished for the sins of their children. God does not act like that. He holds each parent and each child responsible for that individual’s actions.

Sins of the Fathers. A priest name Eli had two sons named Hophni and Phinehas. They were worthless men who did not know the Lord and the custom of the priests with the people (1 Samuel 2:12-13, Page 439). They committed immorality and corrupted the sacrifices of the people of Israel offered to God. Their father Eli honored his sons more than he honored God (1 Samuel 2:29, Page 440). At times, people fail to confront their children timely and persistently about their terrible sins. Although the sons of Eli sinned, and suffered punishment for their own sins, Eli also suffered because he also sinned in not confronting his sons timely about their evil behavior. Individual responsibility for sin does not mean that we fail to warn others about their sins. Remember Ezekiel, the watchman of Israel.

Curses without Cause

Some curses do not have any impact because they have no basis in fact. A proverb from the wise explained that baseless curses never pose a problem.

“Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, so a curse without a cause does not alight” (Proverbs 26:2, Page 1039).

Baseless Curses. A curse without basis cannot attach to a person. In other words, a baseless curse brings no impact. As we have seen throughout the Old Testament, individuals answer for their own behavior; if by faith they have repented and sought forgiveness, then they have been forgiven, and all curses removed from their life.

The Blessings of the New Covenant

Although not all aspects of the New Covenant have been realized, the New Covenant brings many blessings to believers. One blessing concerns the blessing of the nation of Israel. An old proverb in Israel held that “The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” In contrast, under the new covenant, things will change.

“But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge” (Jeremiah 31:30, Page 1238).

New Covenant Blessings. So, the blessings of the New Covenant continue the consistent application of the basic truth that individuals remain accountable for their own actions. An individual will not answer for the sins of his father. On a national level, the nation of Israel shall be transformed when King Jesus returns to reign upon earth. Then, the people of Israiel alive at the time King Jesus returns to reign shall all become believers, from the least of them to the greatest of them (Hebrews 8:11, Page 1877).

Complete Relief from Curses

At the moment of salvation, the believer has been set free from the penalty of all sins–past, present and future.

“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:12-14, Page 1843).

Nailed It to the Cross. When Jesus died on the cross, more than His body was nailed to that cross. The entire certificate of debt, consisting of decrees against us, was also nailed to the cross, rendering that debt paid in full and taken out of the way. Our transgressions require supreme payment, the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Having been paid, we are free from every debt, and every curse. No lingering payment for sin will ever be required. Every curse has been broken in our lives.

No Condemnation. Consider also the powerful truth of Romans concerning our victory and freedom in Jesus Christ. After Paul discussed the effects of the flesh and bondage to sin, Paul explained the truth of no condemnation for believers. In triumph, Paul declared that the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ has set free every believer and no condemnation rests upon any believer. No condemnation, no curses.

“Therefore, there is no no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2, page 1768).

Christ Cursed

Jesus also became a curse for every believer. The Old Testament provided that everyone who was hung a true was cursed (Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Page Page 321). Paul applied that Old Testament passage to the redemption we have in Christ. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul explained how Jesus became a curse for us.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us–for it is written, ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE'” (Galatians 3:13, Page 1822)

Christ Became a Curse. Part of the price of our salvation included Jesus becoming a curse for us. Jesus suffered under the law which provided if a man sinned, he would be hung on a tree. So, everyone hung a tree was cursed. In the case of Jesus, He willing died on a cross (“the tree”) to become a curse for me. I was living under the curse of sin and death, but Jesus forever broke the curse by dying in my place upon the cross. In so doing, Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the Law, once and for all.

The New Creation │ Old Things Passed Away

At the moment of spiritual birth, the believer becomes an entirely new person, born of the seed of God. The new believer becomes a new creature.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, Page 1809).

New Creature. According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, Page 1809, all the old things inside a person passed away at the moment of salvation. A new creature was born of God at that same moment of salvation. Consistent with all the teaching of the Bible, salvation terminates the spiritual penalty of sin in our lives. Jesus took the penalty upon Himself, and so satisfied all the justice of God regarding the debt created by our sins. In declaring that new things have come and all the old things have passed away, all curses would also be taken away, once and for all.

Summary

Parents. Parents never have to worry that their saved children will have to suffer under the curse of the parent’s own sinful activities, bringing a curse upon the children for generations to come. Each individual child will be judged according to that child’s behavior.

Parents. No Special Prayers. God never imposed curses on individuals because of the evil of their parents. Therefore, God does not require special prayers to lift non-existent curses in the believer’s life. If a believer sins, then the believer confesses the sin and by faith believes that the faithful and righteous God will cleanse them and forgive the believer of all their sins (1 John 1:9, Page 1904).

Parents. New Creation. At the moment of salvation, each believer became a new creation. All the old things passed away are gone forever. No more curses could possibly exist.

Parents. Christ Cursed.. Because Jesus was cursed for me, by dying on the cross, then no curse remains for me. He paid every debt, and now no condemnation remains for me.

Post navigation

Welcome !

Welcome to Christ Assembly. As born-again believers, baptized by Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit, we love to glorify God through the study and application of His Word, the Bible. As we study the Bible, we seek to know God better, and to introduce others to the loving salvation of Jesus Christ received by faith alone.

We value the spiritual gifts bestowed upon every born-again Christian and seek to equip them for the work of service for Christ Jesus. Only through every saint using the spiritual gift(s) bestowed upon them will the body of Jesus Christ reach spiritual maturity and avoid being blown about by every wind of doctrine. May God have all the glory, always.
HALLELUJAH !

Spiritual Help

Eternal Life

People often ask me about how they can find spiritual peace. They tell me about their serious illness, divorce, drug addiction, alcoholism, and many other problems that grieve them. So many people share with me that they have never felt truly loved in their entire life, even though they have been married for decades, and have grandchildren. So many people feel a spiritual hunger and thirst within themselves. Jesus loves people and wants you to know all about His great love. He called it the greatest news anyone will ever hear. So, let me share with you about Jesus, Who loves you today. In Jesus, you can receive peace with God today. Jesus alone provides spiritual peace.

Romans 10:9

“Jesus asks you: ‘Why should I let you into My heaven?'”

Let me start with a question. Imagine you were to die today, and stand before Jesus Christ. Imagine further that Jesus looked at you and asked: “Why should I let you into My heaven?”
Take a moment and think about what you would say to Jesus. I have personally asked that question to hundreds and hundreds of people, if not thousands, one person at a time. Jesus always deals personally with you. He knows your name, and loves you personally. Jesus knows your good points and your bad points.

Romans 3:23

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

As God in the flesh, Jesus totally understands who we are as sinners. Sinners fall short of the glory of God. Sin separates us from spiritual peace with God today. In God’s eyes, we all fall short of the glory of God. We do not act perfectly all of the time and so fall short of His glory. We tell lies, we think impure thoughts, we do things we know we should not have done. The road to peace with God starts with understanding that we all sin and we all fall short of the glory of God. As sinners, we tend to hide our sins in darkness, but Jesus helps us recognize that we are sinners and need to come into the light of God. We take the first steps down the path of peace with God by agreeing with God that we are sinners. God helps us walk down the path of peace with God by His divine power. Only by God’s power can I change my mind and accept the truth that I am a sinner. I must repent of my sin and seek God’s forgiveness for my sin. How do I find forgiveness?

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus, the Son of God, offers forgiveness to sinners as a gift. In order to have peace with God, we must receive God’s gift of forgiveness. Before we can grasp God’s offer of forgiveness, we must understand God’s justice and how it works. God tells us that justice imposes a penalty upon sin. God said that the wages of sin is death. Just as we earn wages for our work, so sin earns the wage of death. This spiritual death results from us sinning and falling short of the glory of God. God cannot remain just, and simply ignore our sin. Justice requires that every sin be paid by the death penalty. You have sinned so you deserve to die spiritually. Sin causes the spiritual death of the sinner. Now let us focus upon the gift of God: forgiveness. As a sinner, deserving death, I really do not deserve a gift of eternal life. Instead of death, God wants me to have eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Yet, my sin blocks me from having eternal life. To sinners God loves to give the free gift of eternal life. Although I have earned the death penalty by sinning, God offers me eternal life as a free Christmas gift. I cannot earn the gift of eternal life, and I do not deserve the gift of eternal life. God just wants me to have His gift of eternal life. God purchased the gift of eternal life, just for me, the sinner. Why would God give me gift of eternal life?

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

God gives the free gift of eternal life to sinners because God loves sinners like me. The road to peace with God means that I learn and accept that God loves sinners. Jesus came to love sinners. While I was a sinner, God loved me. So many people think that God hates sinners, but God tells us just the opposite right in this verse. I do not have to clean up my life before God will love me. God loves sinners. God gives the gift of eternal life to sinners, not to perfect people. You see, the gift of eternal life means that I believe that Jesus as God died for me on the cross. I recognize that I deserve the death penalty because I sinned, but Jesus took my place on the cross and died for all my sin. He satisfied God’s justice by paying the death penalty for me. God now offers me a free gift of eternal life, because Jesus loves sinners, and gave His life to die on the cross to pay for all my sins. Jesus demonstrated God’s love for sinners. How do I accept the free gift of God?

Romans 10:9

“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

You accept the free gift of God by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead. We believe that God told us the truth that we fall short of the glory of God because we are sinners. Wonderfully, God loves sinners just like me. God purchased the gift of eternal life for me. I reach out by faith alone to accept the free gift from God. I believe that God sent Jesus as God in the flesh to die for me on the cross. Jesus paid the death penalty for me. Jesus satisfied the justice of God. New life in Jesus Christ begins with faith and continues for eternity. You can accept the free gift of eternal life right now, no matter where you are. Pray this prayer of faith.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner and fall short of the glory of God.

Lord Jesus, I confess that I deserve the death penalty. I repent of my sins.

Lord Jesus, I believe that You died on the cross in my place, because You loved me and paid the death penalty for me.

Lord Jesus, I confess you as Lord of my life.

Lord Jesus, I believe that God raised You from the dead. I accept right now Your gift of forgiveness for all my sins, and thank You for saving me.

Amen.

If you prayed that prayer in faith, please send me an email through the contact box below. I look forward to getting to know you and help you walk daily with Jesus Christ. At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit of God comes into our lives and makes us new creations. You have an abundant life in front of you, filled with joy and peace with God. We must learn from Jesus, and He is humble and gentle with us.